Traveling block



April 20, 1937. E. BURNS ET AL TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Aug. 7, 1955 s She ets-Sheet 1 April 20, 1937. E. BURNS ET AL 2,073,122

TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Aug. 7, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 20, 1937. E. BURNS ET AL TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Aug. 7, 1935 3 Sheets--Sheet 5 I: mill mnmm- RWJA/ Ewe/vs I Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES TRAVELING BLOCK Erwin Burns, Los Angeles, and Harry P. Wickersham, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application August 7, 1935, Serial No. 35,106

12 Claims.

This invention relates to hoisting apparatus and relates more particularly to a sheave block or traveling block. A general object of this invention is to provide a sheave block or traveling block that is dependable and effective in use and that is particularly simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

The present invention is concerned. with a sheave block adapted for use in conjunction with the hoisting apparatus of a well derrick, it being understood that the block of the invention is well adapted for use in other situations and that the references herein to its employment in a well derrick are not to be construed as limitations to the application of the invention.

The traveling sheave blocks in general and particularly the class of traveling blocks used with the hoisting apparatus of a well derrick usually embody a great number of separable parts. In the typical forms of traveling blocks the plates between the sheaves, the side plates or cheeks, the spacers between the plates, etc, are separate parts and are held assembled by bolts, nuts, tie-rods, etc. An assembly of such a large number of parts is expensive and has the serious objection of not being rigid. It is a rather common practice to employ the sheave supporting shaft and the bail supporting pin as elements for holding the assembly together. This arrangement makes the block bulky and very thick as the nuts or other securing parts on the shaft and pin form hazardous projections at the opposite sides of the block. Further, where the bail pin is employed as a connecting member of the general assembly its removal for the application of an elevator, hook or the like, is a difilcult operation and its removal and replacement at the well derrick often result in an improper assembly and adjustment of the block.

Another object of this invention is to provide a traveling block that is extremely simple in construction embodying a minimum number of parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a traveling block that is very sturdy and there fore safe and dependable in operation. The various parts of the block of this invention are utilized to the best advantage to provide a strong rugged assembly and the body or frame is rigid without employing the sheave supporting shaft, the bail pin or any other working parts as structural connecting elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a 55 traveling block that is compact and without projecting parts that might interfere with the lines or other apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sheave block or traveling block in which the pin carrying the clevis or bail may be easily and quickly removed and replaced to facilitate the connection of an elevator, hook or the like with the. block without disturbing any other parts of the block.

Another object of this invention is to provide a traveling block that is narrow or of minimum width, the main shaft being devoid of nuts or the like and the block being without other parts that widen or necessitate widening of the assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a traveling block of the character mentioned that is very inexpensive, embodying a minimum number of parts that require only simple machining and finishing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a traveling block thatembodies a frame or body formed of only two sections that have integral partitions or spacers for spacing the sheaves and for cooperating with the shaft to support the shaft at longitudinally spaced points and strengthen and lend rigidity to the assembly. The various objects and features of our invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the block provided by this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the block. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4--4 on Fig. 2.

The improved traveling block of this invention includes, generally, a frame or body III, a pin or shaft ll, sheaves l2 on the shaft II and means l3 for suspending a hook, elevator or other hoisting device from the body Ill.

The frame or body It carries the various other elements of the block and is adapted to be operated on or suspended from a line or cable. The construction and formation of the body I0 is an important feature of the present invention. In accordance with the invention the frame or body In comprises or consists of two sections M. The sections M are alike or identical and are adapted to be fitted together or assembled to constitute a housing or shell for enclosing and carryingthe shaft II, the sheaves I2, etc. The body sections I4 are integral parts or castings of cast steel or the like and each comprises spaced sides I5 and an outer wall I6. The sides I5 constitute the checks of the block when the sections I4 are assembled. and the major intermediate portions of the sides I 5 are vertical and parallel.

The upper portions of the side walls or sides I 5 taper or converge upwardly rather abruptly while the lower portions of the sides I5 converge downwardly at a less abrupt angle. The outer wall I6 of each body section I4 is inclined in opposite directions from a substantially central horizontal plane whereby the upper and lower portions of the walls I6 ofthe two body sections I4 are respectively upwardly and downwardly convergent as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. The sides: I5 and the walls I6 of the assembled body sections I4 constitute a closed structure enclosing or providing a chamber for carrying one or more-sheaves I2.

In accordance with the invention partitions or spacers I'I extend through the interior of the body I to provide a plurality of compartments I8. It is a feature of. the invention'that the dividing plates or spacers I! are integral parts of their respective body sections I4. Each body section I4 has a plurality of spaced vertical or parallel spacers I 'I projecting from its wall I6 in parallelism with the sides I5. Where the sheaves I2 are of uniform size as shown in the drawings the spacers I! are equally spaced to provide compartments I8 of equal width. The spacers ll of the two connected opposing body sections I4 are in direct alignment or in common vertical planes. The number of aligned spacers I1 and, therefore, the number of compartments I8, depends upon the number of sheaves I2 em bodied in the block. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings thereare four parallel spacers IT on each section 14, the spacers of the two sections dividing the interior of the body III into five equal compartments' I8, each adapted to receive or contain a sheave I2. I The upper ends of the spacers II terminate at or join substantially horizontal walls or partitions I 9.. The spacers H are integrally joined with and extend upwardly from substantially horizontal wallsor partitions 20. The lower partitions 26 are somewhat thicker and deeper than the upper partitions I6. The inner edges of the sides I5, the spacers I! and the upper and lower wall portions of the walls It of the two sections I4 are vertical. The partitions I9 and 26 continue beyond the edges of the sides I5 and the spacers I! to project slightly and present finished vertical surfaces 2!. The surfaces 2| of the two-sections I4 are adapted to cooperate or abut. The surfaces 2I preferably extend throughout the width of the body I6 to provide ample bearing or cooperation between the two body sections I4. 'It is to be noted that the two surfaces H of each body section I4 may be inexpensively accurately machined to insure the proper] mating and assembling of the body sections.

Rows of spaced depressions or recesses 22 are provided in the walls I6 in alignment with the compartments I8 and adjacent the partition I9.

-The portions ofthe walls I6 forming the bottom or inner walls of these recesses 22 are thickened andsubstantially normal to the upper partitions I9. Similar spaced depressions or recesses 24 are provided in the outer walls I6 adjacent the lower engage finished surfaces 28 surrounding the openings 25. The nuts 21 threaded on the tie rods 26 and engaging the surfaces 28 securely connect the sections I4 of the body with the surfaces 2| of the body sections in abutment. The number and spacing of the tie rods 26 is such that the sections are very rigidly held together against Working orshifting relative to one another. It

' is'to be noted that the tie rods 26 and the nuts 2'! are provided solely for connecting the body sections I4 together and do not serve any other functions. Set screws 29 are threaded through openings in outer walls 30 of the recesses 22 and 24 to engage the flat sides of the nuts 21 for the purpose of preventing unthreading of the nuts. The outer walls I6 of the body sections I4 are recessed at 36 to receive the heads of the set screws 29 so that the'screws do not project from the body ID.

The tapering or convergent portions of the body sections I4 above the partitions I9 have vertically elongated openings registering to form an opening SE to receive a line or cable for suspending and operating the block. Ribs or rims 32 may surround the opening 3| at the inner surfaces of the sections I4. The lower portion of the body I 6, that is the portions of the sections i4 below the partition 26, is formed to carry the means I3. The lower end of each body section I4 has a plurality of downwardly projecting webs or flanges. These flanges are vertical or parallel and the flanges of one section I4 mesh with the flanges of the other section. In the case illustrated in the drawings each body section I4 has four flanges, one flange 34 immediately adjacent and at one side of the vertical central plane of the block, two outer flanges 35 and 36 and a flange 3? spaced from the inner flange 34 at the other side of the central vertical plane. The flanges 34, 35, 36 and 37 project inwardly from the inner edges of the body sections I4 and are provided with curved or rounded edges. The flanges 34, 35, and 36 of the two body sections I4 are positioned and related to mesh or overlap as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Slots or openings 39 are provided in the outer walls I6 in a plane above the shaft II and in central alignment with the compartments I8 to freely pass the cables or lines operating over the sheaves I2. Similar slots 39 are provided in the walls I6 to facilitate the threading of the line or lines through the block.

The pin or shaft II extends through and is carried by the body IE! to rotatably support the sheaves I2. The shaft II extends transversely or horizontally through the body III at or adjacent its central horizontal plane. In accordance with the invention aligned partially or semicylindrical openings or notches 48 are provided in the inner opposing edges of the sides I5 and the spacers II of the two body sections and register to form openings which receive the shaft II. The partitions or spacers I! are thickened around their notches 40 and their thickened portions are faced or machined to have finished thrust surfaces 4i. Bosses 42 are provided on the outer surfaces of the sides I5 and have recesses 43. Relatively small heads 44 are provided on the opposite ends of the shaft I I and are countersunk or received in the recesses 43 to be fiush with or inset from the outer surfaces of the bosses 42.

In accordance with the invention the sheave supporting shaft II has a plurality of enlarged cylindrical bearing portions for carrying or supporting the sheaves for rotation in spaced parallel planes. The bearing portions 45 are spaced apart longitudinally of the shaft II leaving annular grooves 46. The spacers I? extend into or cooperate with the grooves 45. The finished faces 4| of the thickened portions of the spacers I! are adapted to engage or bear on the side walls of the groove 45 while the walls of the notches 48 in the spacers are adapted to cooperate with the bottom or inner walls of the grooves. Grooves 41 are provided in the shaft I I between the heads 44 and the outermost bearing portions 45 to receive the flanges 48 on the sides I5. It is to be noted that the spacers I I and the sides I5 cooperating with or extending into the grooves 45 and 41 just described effectively support the shaft I I at longitudinally spaced points or planes. The cooperation of the spacers I1 and the sides I5 with the grooves 45 and 4'! positively holds the shaft II against longitudinal movement and materially braces the entire assembly.

The sheaves I2 carry the lines or cables employed in the drilling and operating of the well. The several sheaves I2 may be identical and of the same effective diameter, it being understood that the sheaves may be of different effective diameters, if desired. A sheave I2 is provided in each compartment I3 and is supported for independent rotation on the shaft II. Each sheave I2 may include a thickened hub 50 having fiat normal ends, webs or bodies 5i and rims 52. Grooves 53 are provided in the rims 52 to carry the line or lines. Anti-friction bearings 54 are provided to support the sheaves I2 for rotation on the bearing portions 45 of the shaft ii. The sheaves I2 have suitable operating clearance in the compartments I8 and the lines from the sheaves are adapted to freely pass through the openings 39. A plurality of longitudinal lubricant ports 56 is provided in the shaft II. A port 56 is provided for conducting lubricant to each individual bearing 54 whereby the individual bearings and the individual pulleys or sheaves I2 may be properly lubricated. Lubricant receiving fittings 51 may be provided at the outer ends of the ports 56.

The means I3 for suspending a device or part of the hoist equipment from the block body I 0 includes a clevis or bail 50. The bail 60 is substantially U-shaped in side or edge elevation having spaced arms 6|. The arms BI are adapted to extend upwardly between the pairs of spaced flanges 36 and 31. The fianges 34, 35, 36 and 31 have horizontally aligned openings 62 and the arms 6| of the bail have horizontal openings 63 adapted to be aligned with the openings 62. A pin 64 is arranged through the openings 62 and 63 to pivotally connect the bail I3 with the block body It]. The pivot pin 64 is adapted to be in serted and engaged through openings 65 formed by aligned or opposing notches in the edges or sides I5. The pin 54 is readily removable to permit the detachment of the bail I3 from the block whereby a hook, elevator or the like may be readily connected with the block by the bail. A head 66 is provided on one end of the pivot pin 64 to cooperate with the outer side of a flange 35. The other end portion of the pin 64 is reduced in diameter and threaded to receive a nut 61 for cooperating with a flange 36. A cotter key 68 may be arranged through a transverse opening in the pivot pin 64 to prevent accidental displacement of the nut 61. It is to be noted that the lower portions of the sides I5 are spaced outwardly from the head 65 and the nut 51 and form shields or hoods at the opposite ends of the pivot pin 64. The lower portion of the bail 60 projects from the lower end of the body I5 and forms a loop for receiving or engaging the eye or bail of a piece of hoist equipment. Stops or wings 59 may be provided on the arms SI of the bail 60.

It is believed that the utility and practicability of the sheave block or traveling block of this invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The block embodies a minimum number of simple, sturdy parts comprising only five major parts or elements, namely the body ID, the shaft II, the sheaves I2, the bail 60 and the bail pin 64. The body I!) comprising the two complementary sections I4 is definitely and effectively held assembled by the multiplicity of tie bolts 26. The rows of tie bolts 26 with the nuts 21 threaded on them hold the two sections I4 together so that their surfaces ZI are in tight abutment. The sheave carrying shaft II is dependably supported at longitudinally spaced points or planes by the cooperation of the sides I5 and spacers H with the grooves 47 and 46. The spacers I I extend through the interior of the body to properly space the individual sheaves I2 to support the shaft I I between its ends and strengthen and lend rigidity to the assembly. The sheaves I2 supported on the bearing portions 45 of the shaft II through the lubricated bearings 54 are effectively carried for free rotation. The clevis or bail 60 is removably pivotally connected with the body H) by the pivot pin 64 in a manner so that it may be removed from and reattached to the body without disturbing any other parts of the assembly. The pivot pin 54 is provided solely for the purpose of carrying the clevis 68 and its removal in no way affects the mounting of the sheaves or the connection between the body sections I4. to permit the detachment of the clevis 60 and may be easily reinserted in the openings 62 and 63 and retained in place by the nut 61 and cotter pin 68 .to again secure the bail to the body If]. It is to be particularly noted that the block of the present invention is of minimum thickness and does not have any projecting parts such as nuts, bolt heads, or the like. The shaft II is not employed as a means for connecting the assembly and therefore does not have any nuts or securing members on its ends to thicken the assembly or project from the sides of the block. The various parts embodied in the block are very simple and require a minimum of finishing and machining.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A sheave block including, two unitary body sections each having spaced internal spacers, there being notches in the edges of the spacers,

The pin 64 may be easily removed means connecting the sections so that their spac ers are aligned to form compartments and said notches are in registration to form openings, a shaft carried in the openings, and sheaves in the compartments rotatably carried by the shaft.

2. A sheave block including two body sections each having spaced internal spacers, means connecting the sections with their spacers aligned and in substantially edge to edge relation to form compartments, a shaft carried by the sections, and sheaves in the compartments rotatable on the shaft.

3. A sheave block including, two frame sections each section comprising spaced partition parts, a shaft having longitudinally spaced grooves, means securing the frame sections together with their partition parts in alignment and cooperating with supported by the sides and spacers of the sections, and sheaves on the shaft spaced one from the'other by the spacers.

5. In a sheave block, two integral body sections each comprising spaced sides and spaced partition parts between the sides, means connecting the. sections with their partition parts in substantially edge to edge opposition, there being notches in the opposing edges of the said parts of the sections aligned to form openings, a shaft carried in the openings, and sheaves rotatably supported on the shaft between said parts.

6. In a sheave block, two integral body sections each comprising spaced sides, means connecting the sections with their sides in substantially edge to edge opposition, a shaft extending between the sides, a sheave rotatable on the shaft, and parts on the sections supporting the shaft at points between its ends.

'7. In a sheave block, two integral body sections each comprising spaced sides, means connecting the sections with their sides in substantially edge to edge relation, a shaft extending transversely between said sides, a plurality of sheaves on the shaft, and means on each section supporting the shaft at longitudinally spaced points and spacing the sheaves.

8. In a sheave block, two body sections each comprising spaced sides, means connecting the sections with their sides in substantially edge to edge relations, a shaft extending transversely between said sides, a plurality of sheaves on the shaft, and means supporting the shaft at longitudinally spaced points and spacing the sheaves, the last mentioned means including spacers on the sections extending between the sheaves and cooperating with the shaft.

9. A line handling device including a body divided into two like complementary sections, means rigidly connecting the sections, a shaft having its longitudinal axis substantially in the plane of division of the body, the said sections each including spaced internal partition parts supporting the shaft at longitudinally spaced points, and sheaves rotatable on the shaft in the spaces between said parts.

10. A line handling device including a body divided longitudinally into two sections, tie rods connecting the sections, a shaft having its longitudinal axis substantially in the plane of division of the body and supported by the sections, a rotatable sheave on the shaft, a bail, and means connecting the. bail with the body for removal therefrom without disturbing the sections, rods or shaft.

11. A line handling device including a body divided longitudinally into two sections, tie rods connecting the sections, a shaft having its longitudinal axis substantially in the plane of division of the body and supported by the sections, a rotatable sheave on the shaft, the sections including overlapping parts having aligned openings, a removable pin carried in the openings, and a bail pivotally carried by the pin.

12. A line handling device including a body divided longitudinally into two sections, tie rods connecting the sections, a shaft having its longitudinal axis substantially in the plane of division of the body and having longitudinally spaced grooves, the sections including parts cooperating with the grooves, and sheaves rotatable on the portions of the shaft between the grooves.

HARRY P. WICKERSHAM.

ERWIN BURNS. 

